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Mason schools tried to honor seniors, but gathering of about 100 led to police response

A gesture meant to honor the class of 2020 at Mason City Schools led to teens and young adults gathering Monday night in a school parking lot, according to police and school officials.

Joining other Ohio schools, Mason flicked on stadium lights at 8:20 p.m. Monday, or 2020 on a 24-hour clock. Participating schools planned to keep the lights on for 20 minutes and 20 seconds.

Students were invited to drive by, but "some of them got out of their cars and started to congregate," said Lt. Jeff Burson, a spokesperson with Mason police. Burson said nearly 100 people joined a gathering in a Mason High parking lot.

In recognition of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, officers told the crowd to disperse, Burson said. No charges were filed nor are they being pursued.

The stadium lighting event may have tempted some to congregate, according to Tracey Carson, a district spokesperson.

"We learned a lesson about this after seeing pictures and videos that showed some seniors gathering without physical distancing," Carson said. "As soon as reports came in, police were notified and responded."

She emphasized that students are "craving connection" and that social distancing is difficult for "many of our teens and children."

"We also now better understand how even events that are intended to honor students from afar could unintentionally tempt them to violate the state’s orders that protect Ohioans," Carson said.

Burson confirmed two officers responded and, after ordering the teens and young adults to leave, they did so without incident.

"We (are) hoping we would be able to continue to educate people and explain as opposed to arrest and file charges," Burson said.

Burson added he feels concern for all of those who gathered and hopes no one becomes ill.

A video purportedly depicting the gathering was posted to Twitter by Avery Wilson, a 2018 Mason graduate. Wilson told The Enquirer she did not capture the video but a current Mason High student did. The person to whom Wilson referred The Enquirer said in a message: "I happened to be there and shot 10 seconds of a video."

The person added: "somebody stole it from my personal account other than that I have no comment and I don’t want to be named in any article... and I have contacted a family attorney about the (misuse) of my private video…"

Mason High School never disappoints. You all are the reason why so many people are dying and so many people will continue to die. I don’t think a high school diploma comes with so much ignorance and irresponsibility. Stay inside like the rest of us. pic.twitter.com/pHIwoSw4Qh

Neither Carson nor Burson could confirm the video posted by Wilson was captured during the Monday gathering at Mason High.

But the video prompted criticism directed at students, particularly seniors, on social media.

"You all are the reason why so many people are dying and so many people will continue to die," Wilson tweeted along with the video, which had been viewed more than 50,000 times in less than 24 hours. "I don’t think a high school diploma comes with so much ignorance and irresponsibility. Stay inside like the rest of us."

Wilson added in a message to The Enquirer that she felt the Mason gathering was similar to a recent one in Over-The-Rhine. Responses by officials varied to the two incidents, separated by about two weeks.

Rashaan Davis, who was present at the OTR gathering, was arrested and charged with a felony and misdemeanor by Hamilton County authorities.